Not child’s play: Alonso’s Anthony Chickillo has James Wilder in his ear, FSU on his mind

Search

Twitter

More Video

Facebook

Alonso senior defensive end Anthony Chickillo is scheduled to announce his college decision on Thursday afternoon. In the days leading up to his decision, one well-known former preschool classmate of his has spent plenty of time in his ear recruiting for Florida State.

The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Chickillo said Plant running back/defensive end James Wilder Jr., a friend of his since they were sharing naptimes together, has been pitching him the idea of joining him with the Seminoles.

“We’re always talking,” Chickillo said. “Right when he committed, he told me to come to Florida State, to come with him. Me and James, we go way back, all the way back to preschool.

“He’s just always saying about they’re getting all these recruits and that we can help turn it around and bring it back to the old days,” Chickillo said. “I’m looking at Florida State really hard. They’re one of my favorites.”

Chickillo, ranked the seventh best rush end recruit in the nation and the 34th best over prospect in the state of Florida by Rivals.com, has narrowed down his schools to Miami, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, USF, Alabama and Georgia.

Chickillo, the bay area’s top uncommitted recruit, and Wilder could compare plenty of notes, having been recruited by many of the same programs. Wilder, ranked the No. 3 prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, committed to Florida State on Aug. 18, choosing the Seminoles over Georgia and Florida.

“I’ve realized that every school has amazing facilities, great weight rooms and good people. That’s the only difference is the people. It’s how you feel about them and how comfortable you are around them. I know that’s what happened with James.”

Chickillo’s father, Tony, and grandfather, Nick, both played college football at Miami before playing in the NFL, so he could be a rare third-generation Hurricane, but Chickillo insists he’s wide open.

Despite missing five games last year with a collarbone injury, Chickillo still tallied 12.5 sacks and averaged 12 tackles a game.